Kinshasa - Kahemba

On January 8, 1996 at 12:43 PM, Kinshasa - Kahemba experienced a crash involving Antonov AN-32, operated by African Air, with the event recorded near Kinshasa-Ndolo Kinshasa City Province.

The flight was categorized as cargo and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a city crash site.

6 people were known to be on board, 298 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 4966.7%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 2, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 297.

The listed crash cause is other causes. The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Kinshasa to Kahemba, carrying two passengers, four crew members and a load of food and basic necessities. During the takeoff roll, at a speed of 204 km/h, the pilot-in-command pulled up the control column to start the rotation but the aircraft failed to respond. The crew decided to abort the take off procedure but this decision was taken too late. Unable to stop within the remaining distance (the runway is 1,700 metres long), the aircraft overran, rolled for about 240 metres and came to rest in the district of Simbazikita, bursting into flames. A crew member was killed while five other occupants were injured. On ground, at least 297 people were killed while 253 others were injured, some seriously.

Aircraft reference details include registration RA-26222, MSN 2301, year of manufacture 1989.